The Portland daily press., 1887-06-25
THE MAINE STATE PRESS,
OLD YORK.
Description of the Ancient Seat Of
the corges.

son commences is novel experience, writes
correspondent of the Worcester Spy, from
York, Me- The decided impression produced
Is the grand solitariness Of the scene. Here
are the silent hotels, with their echoless pi
azzas; rows Of cottages with barred doors
and blind-drawn windows, and more impress
sive yet, the uninhabited shore with the tire
less waves beating upon its rocks, and with
no living thing near but perhaps a solitary
crow or sandpiper strutting about upon the
sands, brayely confronting the mighty waste
OF waters. The charm of the impression
lies in the sense Of freedom and ownership.
You feel that the ocean in all its various
moods and phases is for you, and you alone.
An experience Of this nature has been mine
at 1ork Harbor. Though storms and fog
prevailed here from the 25th of May until
the 9th of June, yet there was fascination in
watching the ocean when dashed by storms
and clothed in fog. The mournful sound Of
the fog horn, as 1t was waited inland from
OFF Kittery Point, was perhaps the most des-
piring feature Of the situation. York has
the advantage over most New England
beaches in historic lore. as well as in charm
ing inland scenery. How difficult to realize.
as we are jostled over the stony and uncom-
promising road which leads from Kitterv IN
York, that this territory was the ancient CITY
OF Georgeana, the seat of the Gorges. The
cellar hole Of the Gorges mansion Is pointed
out as we pass over the bridge above York
village. 1t was here that Thomas GorSes
came in 1910 when he returned from England.
10 ma his home ritled by some Of his sun
posed followers of everything in the house,
n no ;r me Dat pair Of tongS and irons and
was the boosted seat of Episcopacy in Amer
lea, yet 1t was pretty much given over -at
That time to immortality and irreligion,
There was no Clergyman here during the
government Of the Gorges. When the char
ter expired IN 1863 and it became town
again, there was better state Of things. The
Georges had no more tact for governments
than their Inflated monarch, Charles the
First: The old York jail, which | have
mentioned mel t IN q former article, is yet stand
ing, TO the delight OF the antiquarian. Moth
ing now remains of the original structure,
which was built in 1868. but the gambrei
roof, which now serves to protect il from
the sun, but not the rain. What a curious
interest TINS old pile inspires. Judged, by
the number OF names inscribed upon its
walls, that in these modern days it is a pop
ular place Of resort for the non-criminaI non
ulation. 1t Is inhabited by woman Of Sc. the
widow OF the last jailer. She was ostensi-
bly, the jailer herself for over so wears az N
husband worked at his trade. The building
mas also served as refuge for the insane as
well as for criminals. 1t CHANGED TO be on a
wet and sombre day that | again saw it, Ii
was, indeed, picture in deep shadow. The
dark and rlckety rooms, and the still darker
associations; the lone and aged woman the
ram beating against the windows the wind
howllng among the trees outside, and with
no contrast Of bright fire within, or Of CHEEKY
iaght OF sunshine without. The jail will soon
DppQmH min nOlpSG rQnairc
10 enhance the dignity of an old New
England village an ancient meeting house is
necessary. In York the old meeting house
OF Moody fame, has been remodeled
INTO commonplace, modern church. Some
OF the old timber was used, and it stands on
the ancient site. Consequently, in magma
tlon, we are yet able to picture scenes in its
early history. Here the Rev. Samuel Moody.
the second minister of the parish, had an
exeeptlonally long pastorate. 1t is said he
suDslsted on falth, and preached for moth
ing. When say for nothing, | mean he
preached Tor twelve pounds per YEAR His
people were so poor from the Frenchland In
dian wars that the good parson only exacted
from II tnem TINS amount. His relations and
the General Court at Boston generally eked
out his salary. Gould he have known how
much his Pensioners would expend on his
funeral, he would doubtless have made 4
louder demand for life support. The par
i sI nad SO picked up at the time Of Parson
one hundred and five pounds, eighteen shil-
llngs and sixpence for his funeral. to saw
nothing OF their putting the widow and chill
dren In mourning. Five gallons of rum, six
Teen pounds OF sugar and half pound of
allsplce were used at the funeral Whether
the cost was included in the above sum |
nave no means of knowing. In Judge Sew
elrs quaint diary, Cousin Samuel Moody
OF York" is frequently mentioned as a vis-
ltor at his house in Boston / infer these
visits occurred when he was most in need of
funds, In one place Judge Sewell says,
cousin Samuel Moody of York has
just read to me the story of Re-
bekah's Courtship, and afterwards adj
result Of Cousin Moody's sympathy. we
md that In 1--WE months after the death Of
ms wife Judge Sewall was emulating IRE
bekah." Many Of the gifted preachers Of
those days visited York. Whitefeld was
here twice, Lorenzo Dow once. On the oc-
casion OF the visit of the latter, he astonish
ed his hearers at the close of his sermon, by
leaplng from the pulpit window and disap-
pearlng from the village. | believe il was
one OF his little eccentrleities to act in this
lage may be said to abound in antiquities.
Here Is the old bridge which was built in
1871 by Major Samuel Sewall 1t was the
nrst pier bridge constructed in America. A
stroll over It on clear day in early summer
is one of the charming experiences Of York.
At least it was mine. On the day in cues
the whole region was athrill. Birds were
dartlng hither and thither; robins, bobo-
INKS, swallows, sparrows and orioles were
singing thelI summer jubilee. Looking
from tne bridge TO the west the view was
harmonious; the river vista was Charming:
mere and there were fishermen in row boats
padding over the silver ripples; by the riy-
er banks the cows were cropping the long
grass; the low hills on either side were
clothed with bright yerdafe; ON their-slopas
were picturesque farm houses and cottages,
nearly hidden by the outrageous foliage
The harbor view to the eastward has de-
formltles; projecting rocks, boat landings, a
shabby ice house and the new railroad bridge
obstruct the view of the river as it winds
around the point to the ocean. In conse-
quence OF the river and harbor bill York
Harbor Will very soon be dradged and
widened. What Is known as SWEETS Point
WI, De GUY OIL, 50 that vessels may come in
with safety. Fifteenlthousahd dollars have
been appropriated for York Harbor. One
OF the pleasing rural features of the harbor
village are the grass grown lanes which lead
from the principal street to the river. on
these lanes are few of the oldest houses i'm
4 OK, among them the Saywood house, two
hundred years old, the house used for the
YORK library, nearly as old, and still another
cottage, once the custom house." In this
vicinity all OF the commercial business of old
noik was carried on. Here was the wharf
and here the warehouses. A few old sheds
and forlorn odds and ends of buildings only
remain to mark the site of former wealth
and Importance. The flora Of York Harbor
Is more beautiful and extensive than the
flora Of inland towns. Among the wild
howers l have noticed the rhodora, which
Is small purple flower, the celan-
dine with bright yellow blossoms, the
columbine, the beach pea, blue
eyed grass, double buttercups, the vel
low cypress and immense dandelions.
The daisies are just opening. On the cliff
facing the sea many pretty cottages have
been recently erected Among them are the
cottages owned by John @. Ropes Of Boston
and John d. Washburn Of Worcester. A
few houses are already opened for the sum-
mer: Mrs. Dwight Of Cambridge. and Mrs.
Atkinson and DIR. Stackpole of Boston have
arrived at theirs. Also the Williams of Bal
timore and the Rev. Joseph May and family
of Philadelphia. Sunset Cottage. noted
here for the lovely views obtained from it OF
the river, was opened by the owner-Mme.
Eastman-on the LIST of May. She will enter
tain during the summer several distin-
guished guests. Among them will be DR..
Peabody of Cambridge, Prof William jew
EFT Tucker Of Andover and Gen. Armstrong.
At the Long Beach neither cottages or hotels
are as vet opened. One can only listen for
the incoming tide and watch the surf lean
and eurl around distant rocks